Fantasy, starting with a treasure bowl

"Xu Tianlong is from the South Campus, so he's definitely a difficult guy to deal with..."

In response to Lu Xiaoxiang's reminder, Lu Feng stroked his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Falling Star Academy is divided into four major branches: East, South, West, and North. The number and strength of students in each branch are different. The East Branch is the strongest, followed by the South Branch, then the West Branch, and the North Branch is the weakest.

Generally, freshmen who have just entered the college are assigned to the North Campus. Only those who have reached a certain standard in both their enrollment time and ability will have the opportunity to be promoted to a higher-level campus and receive higher college treatment and salary.

Just like Liu Heng, whose arm was just crippled by Lu Feng, his strength was enough to be promoted to the West Academy. However, because he had not been in the academy for ten years, Liu Heng could only stay in the North Academy for the time being and could not become a student of the West Academy.

"It seems I need to hurry up and improve my strength, otherwise it will be difficult for me to maintain my position in Falling Star Academy for long..."

Thinking of this, Lu Feng took a deep breath and then slowly clenched his fists.

Although he is quite strong now and can be considered the top newcomer this year, capable of sweeping away a group of students from the North Academy, he is obviously still not good enough compared to the old hands who have been cultivating in the South Academy for decades.

"Miss Lu, I didn't expect you to care about me so much. Could it be because we are from the same clan, and you can't bear to see me in such danger?"

Composing himself, Lu Feng looked at Lu Xiaoxiang beside him again, then grinned.

Although he and Lu Xiaoxiang had only just met and didn't have much of a relationship, they shared the same surname, so perhaps their ancestors had some connection from five hundred years ago.

Therefore, Lu Feng's words at this moment were not simply an attempt to get closer to him.

"Lu Feng, you...!"

Faced with Lu Feng's teasing, Lu Xiaoxiang was also stunned for a moment, then her pretty face turned slightly red and she said, "What nonsense are you talking about! What time is it, and you are still in the mood to joke?"

"Although Falling Star Academy strictly forbids 'internal strife and killing,' given Xu Tianlong's abilities and connections, he has hundreds of ways to retaliate against you. Aren't you worried at all?"

"Miss Lu, there's no use worrying. There are plenty of people who want to kill me these days, one more Xu Tianlong won't make a difference..."

Shrugging again, Lu Feng said nonchalantly, "However, Yun Haoxuan is right about something. We are all martial artists from the four kingdoms of Lingnan. If we want to live peacefully in Luoxing Academy, we do need to help each other."

"I didn't expect you to be so carefree and composed despite your young age. I underestimated you before."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xiaoxiang's pretty face froze slightly, and then she said with a hint of helplessness.

The reason she spoke up for Lu Feng was not because they shared the same surname, Lu, nor was it due to romantic love, but rather because of a woman's innate admiration for the strong.

After all, with Lu Feng's talent and strength, his future achievements will definitely not be low.

For Lu Xiaoxiang, befriending a young genius like Lu Feng is not necessarily a bad thing.

"Miss Lu, if there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now."

Lu Feng cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Lu Xiaoxiang once more, and then immediately turned and left.

"By the way, if Miss Lu misses me, you can come to Mercury Peak for a get-together. Although I am usually very busy, I don't mind drinking with a beautiful lady until we're drunk."

Before leaving, Lu Feng seemed to remember something, turned back and grinned at Lu Xiaoxiang with a playful expression.

"Lu Feng, you, you're talking nonsense!"

"Who would miss you...!"

Seeing Lu Feng looking at her with amusement, Lu Xiaoxiang's pretty face also flushed slightly, her beautiful eyes panicked, no longer displaying her usual aloof demeanor, like a newlywed wife whose thoughts had been seen through.

However, before Lu Xiaoxiang could retort, Lu Feng transformed into a golden streak of light and vanished outside the pavilion.

"If I had known this guy was so glib, I wouldn't have said anything. He's so infuriating!"

Looking in the direction Lu Feng left, Lu Xiaoxiang also frowned, then stomped her foot in frustration, and the next moment she also turned and left the welcoming banquet.

...

Cangmang Mountain, Mercury Peak, in front of a simple courtyard

Swish!

A golden streak of light landed steadily, then dissipated a pair of Yuan Power wings, revealing a handsome face. It was none other than Lu Feng, who had returned from the New Year's banquet with a great deal of money.

"Brother Lu!"

As soon as Lu Feng landed, a familiar young voice came from behind him.

"Is it you?"

Turning around at the sound, Lu Feng was also taken aback. "Brother Wu, what brings you here?"

The newcomer had a face as black as charcoal and a strong, agile physique. The pair of animal bone ornaments hanging from his ears were particularly eye-catching. He was Wu Yunran from the Wu Yun tribe of the Southern Barbarians, and he was also the only Southern Barbarian to be admitted to Luoxing Academy this year.

"Huff...huff...huff...!"

"Brother Lu, I've been looking for you for ages...!"

Wu Yunran was panting heavily as he wiped the sweat from his brow. "When I came here to look for you earlier, I found you weren't at your residence. Then I asked the fellow disciples who attended the welcome banquet, and they said you had left long ago. I thought something had happened to you..."

"Is that so? That's quite unfortunate."

Upon hearing this, Lu Feng shrugged, looking somewhat embarrassed. "By the way, Brother Wu, what brings you here today?"

"Actually, it's nothing major. Senior Brother Wang Wu just asked me to pass on a message to you and give you this thing along with it."

After saying that, Wu Yunran took out a sandalwood token with a grayish-brown color from his pocket and carefully handed it to Lu Feng. "Brother Lu, this token is the Cangmang Token that every student in our Falling Star Academy must have."

"Although this token doesn't show any spiritual energy, it's a personal token for all students of Falling Star Academy. It also allows you to collect your monthly student stipend from the academy's main hall on White Autumn Peak. You'd better keep it safe!"

"I understand, thank you, Brother Wu."

Lu Feng raised his hand to accept the Vast Expanse Token and nodded.

"Hehe, Brother Lu, you're welcome...!"

Wu Yunran scratched his head and said, "Then I'll head back first, otherwise Elder Yin will scold me again..."

"Elder Yin?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Feng's face showed slight surprise again. "Could it be that Elder Yin has accepted you as his disciple?"

No wonder he didn't see Wu Yunran at the welcome banquet. It turns out that Wu Yunran had already been secretly taken in as a disciple by Yin Baili, and from then on, she had made a leap forward and soared to great heights!

"Uh, I don't know, I guess I guess..."

Faced with Lu Feng's probing, Wu Yunran looked flattered and still said weakly, "Elder Yin said that I possess the innate spiritual body 'Rock Thousand Blade Body,' making me a rare talent for cultivation. He then told me to leave my personal residence on Mercury Peak and go directly to his place to cultivate..."

"That dark-faced kid really struck it rich for nothing..."

Seeing this, Lu Feng sighed inwardly, lost in thought.

After all, Yin Baili is one of the famous Seven Fallen Stars, and he holds the high position of elder. It is obviously much better for Wu Yunran to cultivate with him than to stay in the North Academy as a mere freshman!

...

Mercury Peak, in a simple courtyard

Lu Feng sat cross-legged, his hands forming a mantra, while his body was surrounded by gleaming low-grade spirit stones, like small hills, completely enveloping him.

After Wu Yunran left, Lu Feng did not slack off in his personal residence, but instead began to cultivate in seclusion.

After all, he currently has a full ten million low-grade spirit stones, enough to support his breakthrough in cultivation, and even to reach the Spirit Soul Realm in one fell swoop!

In addition, facing threats from Xu Tianlong and others from the Southern Academy, Lu Feng had no choice but to quickly improve his strength in order to protect himself.

"Let's begin...!"

Taking a deep breath, Lu Feng circulated the Panlong Breath Technique while inhaling with both hands to the side, instantly absorbing all the surrounding mounds of Yuan Stones and refining the incomparably pure spiritual energy within them.

Swish!Swish!Swish!

As a large amount of spiritual energy from heaven and earth flowed into his eight extraordinary meridians, Lu Feng felt as if he had been enlightened. His mind and body instantly became incredibly clear and empty. At the same time, pure Yuan energy surged from his dantian, almost bursting his entire body!

"roar!"

Unable to resist letting out a low growl, Lu Feng immediately accelerated the absorption of the spirit stones.

"That felt so good...! Again...!"

Lu Feng's eyes were bloodshot, his forehead was sweating, and his whole body was trembling slightly, as if he was in a state of both pain and pleasure.

Boom!

After an unknown amount of time, a deafening roar came from his dantian. The next moment, Lu Feng's body trembled violently, and his Yuan energy surged rapidly. His meridians and dantian capacity more than doubled, and he seemed to be reborn, exuding an astonishing aura!

"Tenth level of the Meridian Opening Realm!"

Feeling the unprecedentedly powerful Yuan energy in his dantian and the eight extraordinary meridians that had more than doubled in size, Lu Feng slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, his face full of excitement.